LAUSR

ABSTRACT Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS‐CoV) has emerged as a coronavirus infection of humans in the past 5 years. Though confined to certain geographical regions of the world, infection has been associated with a case fatality rate of 35%, and this mortality may be higher in ventilated patients. As there are few readily available animal models that accurately mimic human disease, it has been a challenge to ethically determine what optimum treatment strategies can be used for this disease. We used in‐vitro and human ex‐vivo explant cultures to investigate the effect of two immunomodulatory agents, interferon alpha and cyclosporine, singly and in combination, on MERS‐CoV replication. In both culture systems the combined treatment was more effective than either agent used alone in reducing MERS‐CoV replication. PCR SuperArray analysis showed that the reduction of virus replication was associated with a greater induction of interferon stimulated genes. As these therapeutic agents are already licensed for clinical use, it may be relevant to investigate their use for therapy of human MERS‐CoV infection. HighlightsThe effect of interferon‐&agr; and/or cyclosporine on MERS‐CoV replication was evaluated with a human ex‐vivo culture model.All treatments were able to reduce MERS‐CoV replication.The combined treatment was more effective than either agent used alone in reducing MERS‐CoV replication.The effect of the combined treatment group was associated with a greater induction of interferon stimulated genes.